Magnitude 3,0 earthquake in Öræfajökull volcano

Today (24-March-2018) at 16:32 UTC a magnitude 3,0 earthquake happened in Öræfajökull volcano. There has been a lot of smaller earthquake activity in Öræfajökull volcano in recent days and the earthquake activity has been continuous for most of that time.

The earthquake activity in Öræfajökull volcano. Copyright of this image belongs to Icelandic Met Office.

I am unclear at the moment if there is any change happening at this moment. There has been slight increase in earthquakes that have magnitude larger than 1,5 in recent days. Overall there has been no major increase in earthquake activity so far in Öræfajökull volcano. But it has been mostly continuous for last several weeks and that might be a sign of trouble in near future.

The magnitude 3,0 earthquake was felt in Öræfasveit and other nearby areas.

It is not possible to know for sure when a eruption is going to happen. But this rate of activity suggests Öræfajökull volcano is preparing for a eruption in near future. It is my guess that an eruption is going to happen within five year time frame as things currently stands.

It might quiet down again, that does happens with volcanoes sometimes.

Latest report are that sulphur smell has been detected in the glacier called Breiðamerkurjökull (live camera), it goes into Jökulárslón. This is not connected to Öræfajökull volcano rather this is connected to activity in Esjufjöll volcano and might suggest that a hydrothermal activity has started in Esjufjöll volcano.